INTERVIEW: Shauna Lawless
Shauna Lawless is an Irish author, whose debut fantasy series the Gael Song has had us here at Grimdark Magazine hooked from the very beginning. The series is a perfect blend of Irish history, mythology, and magic. Now, with the release of the third instalment The Land of the Living and the Dead, we have had the chance to sit and chat with Shauna about the series and what is up next for her.
[GdM] Shauna thank you so much for interviewing with us to celebrate the release of The Land of the Living and the Dead. I am a huge fan of the Gael Song series, and this latest novel is a top contender for my favourite read of the year.
[SL] Oh, thank you so much!! That is very kind of you to say so.
[GdM] Just in case people reading this are new to the series, how would you pitch the Gael Song to new readers?
[SL] It is a historical fantasy set in 10th and 11th century Ireland. The fantastical elements are derived from Irish mythology and based on two tribes—the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians. In our mythologies they had a variety of magical gifts, from witches, warriors, harpists, cupbearers and fire magic.
The Gael Song weaves these characters’ stories with the historical figures who were alive in this period. Expect lots of battles and political scheming.
[GdM] And for those who have waited with bated breath for The Land of the Living and the Dead what should they expect from this book?
[SL] A major battle that happens in the 11th century is the Battle of Clontarf. So, in the historical context, the novel builds up to this. However, the mythological tribes both still have their struggles and as they become more and more involved in the mortal realm, things become very chaotic. I don’t really want to stay too much, because delving into these struggles will give spoilers for the earlier books.
[GdM] One of the things that I really love about this series is that it is told mostly through the female lens. Fódla and Gormflaith are very different women on opposing sides of a long-standing conflict, but (to my mind) both ultimately have the same goal of keeping their families safe. How did you craft their characters and why did you choose them as the main voices in the series?
[SL] For me Fódla and Gormflaith represent the two sides of being a parent. Do you want a better world for all children, or are you more focused on finding a way for your own child to thrive? Fódla wants Ireland to be a safe place for everyone, not just her family members. Gormflaith believes the world is corrupt and seeks to manipulate events to her own advantage. I feel that everyone has these conflicts at times. The world is dangerous, how are you supposed to move forward when everything seems so difficult? That was definitely a theme I wanted to explore.
[GdM] In The Land of the Living and the Dead there are more narrative perspectives than in the earlier novels. What led you to make this change?
[SL] I think the world just opened up as I continued to write. Fódla and Gormflaith still have the most chapters, but I found it interesting to sprinkle in a few chapters from other perspectives. Sometimes to showcase another viewpoint on an event that was about to happen. Sometimes to give a secondary character greater emotional depth. I always loved writing these chapters and finding my way into writing a new voice.
[GdM] I describe the Gael Song series as a historical fantasy, and the world feels so solid and real that as a reader I become lost in it. What was your approach to researching the series from a historical perspective?
[SL] I did a lot of research! From reading non-fiction to reading the historical texts that still survive today. I think the days of writing in a historical setting and making it up or doing only a little bit of research is over. Readers expect more these days. And I did everything I could to make 10th/11th century Ireland feel real. From researching indigenous trees and animals to what the houses were made of, to clothing and the legal system. I’m also lucky in that I live in Ireland—so I was able to visit historical sites too. That always helps a lot.
[GdM] Are there any details from your research that you wish you had been able to include?
[SL] To be fair, I do think I found ways to include most of it, even if it was only vaguely referenced. One thing that I might be able to use in a later novel is my research on indigenous Irish plants and which ones are poisonous!
[GdM] What was it about this era of Irish history that appealed to you?
[SL] I’ve always been fascinated by this era. Firstly, it was because I didn’t think we were taught about it correctly in school. Brian Boru is often depicted as a saintly character—a man who prayed and drove the Vikings out of Ireland. On doing more reading, I discovered this wasn’t true at all. He was a warrior, not a saint. And he didn’t drive the Vikings out of Ireland at all, in fact the port of Dublin continued to thrive. The war between the Irish and the Viking settlers wasn’t religious either as the settlers had converted to Christianity by this point. And so, I guess, when you realise something is wrong, you want to correct it and discover the truth of what really happened and what I found was just incredible.
[GdM] Would you recommend any further reading (fiction or non-fiction) to those of us interested in learning more about it?
[SL] Yes—here are four books that might be of interest.
Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf by Seán Duffy Viking Pirates and Christian Princes by Benjamin Hudson Irish Kings and High-Kings by Francis John Byrne Wars of the Irish Kings by David Willis McCullough[GdM] There are two novellas in the Gael Song series, Dreams of Fire and Dreams of Sorrow, how does your creative approach differ when you are writing shorter fiction?
[SL] I think writing a novella is very freeing. As it’s shorter, you don’t need to have huge arcs. You can just focus on one single story/character. I usually know what story I want to write/the character I want to focus on, but I don’t really outline. I let the story pour out on the page and then see what works or doesn’t work when I reach the editing phase.
[GdM] I have been lucky enough to visit Dublin before but would love to explore more of Ireland. Is there a place that you think we could visit today and feel like we had jumped through the pages into one of your stories?
[SL] Oh, that’s interesting!! One of my favourite places is Newgrange. It’s a 5,200-year-old passage tomb that was built in the stone age and is older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. It is full of pagan symbolism, and you can go inside it if you take part in a tour. It’s honestly amazing and a different experience to visiting castles.
[GdM] I read that one of your childhood writing inspirations was The Animals of Farthing Wood—which I also loved as child, but having now watched the series again with my own children it is actually a pretty bleak world! What are other surprising sources of inspiration for you?
[SL] Yes, The Animals of Farthing Wood is so bleak. There is a book in that series called The Fox Cub Bold and it really made me cry!
I remember when I was very young The Little Mermaid was released by Disney, and I loved it. A few months later, my mother saw a cartoon VHS in a store and bought it for me, but she did not realise that it wasn’t the Disney movie, but rather an animated version of the real story. It was so sad and tragic that I cried and cried when I watched it. However, the next day, I watched it again. I think I was secretly fascinated by tragedy. Of course, The Little Mermaid is about being and outsider and not fitting in—and I think both Fódla and Gormflaith feel that at times.
[GdM] I love learning more about how writer’s approach their work. What does a typical writing day look like for you?
[SL] I drop the kids off to school at 9am. I come home, eat breakfast, answer emails… and then I start to write. I always find putting on my playlists (usually made up of soundtrack music) really helps me to focus and I aim to reach 2,000 words a day if I’m drafting. If I’m editing, I try to read through a certain number of chapters per week (however this varies depending on the length of those chapters). Once we get to midday, I stop for a bit of lunch, then get going again. School is over at 2.30—so once I get the kids home, that’s really it for the day.
When I first started writing, I was only able to grab an hour every other evening, so I feel very lucky to be writing full time now. I certainly get a lot more done in a day.
The decision to write full-time was a big one. I realized that I couldn’t finish my contract if I was still working. I did get an advance for this series, and I decided to save it and live off it for as long as I could—and tentatively took a two-year career break. Those two years are nearly over and I’m now hoping to keep writing full-time beyond this period.
[GdM] After finishing The Land of the Living and the Dead I personally am really hoping for more in the Gael Song world. What is next for you professionally, more in this world or are you dipping your toe into other fantastical adventures?
[SL] There is a third novella to come out in March 25. I’m very excited about this one. The first novella, Dreams of Fire focused on the mythology of the Gael Song. This third novella focuses on the historical fiction side of the story.
The series is also continuing with an ‘era 2’ trilogy. I think this series has a fantastic ending, but there is one thread still left hanging that a new generation of characters will have to deal with. So yes—the short answer is—there is lots more to come.
[GdM] Shauna, thank you so much for sitting down and chatting with me. I have tried to avoid questions which might spoil part of The Land of the Living and the Dead but I just wanted to say that the novel had a perfect ending. It left me bereft in the best sort of way! I can’t wait for whatever you have next.
[SL] Oh, thanks for saying this. I was so worried about the ending and it landing with readers!!
Read the Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless
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